Panatnikhom is about 200km East of Vietnamese refugees border camps. It was established in July 1980 as a processing center for the refugees: Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian. The refugees were transferred from other refugee camps in Thailand for third country resettlement process. Vietnamese Land Refugees (VNLR) were also transported here for processing. Most lived here for about 1 month, longer if they needed medical treatment or depended on the resettlement countries, before flying out to final destination.
As it was, Panatnikhom existed only in our dream for many years we languished along the border. We thought about it more than about anywhere else. It had become part of our journey, albeit very short time.

The photos in this blog are courtesy of several people, with the timeline noted below. We sincerely thank you all of you for sharing these priceless photos

Trinh Huy Chuong, a fellow refugee who was lucky enough to have a small camera to capture the most memorable memory in the short time he was there, from December 1987 to June 1988.

John Launder, a volunteer from Australia who was assisting refugees at Panatnikhom in 1984.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Panat Nikhom Refugee Camp 1984 Part 2 - Photos courtesy of John Launder

Photos from Phanat Nikhom Transit and Holding Camp 1983-84 Part 2
The following is a second group of photos taken at Phanat in Dec 83 - Jan 84.

The original post can be view here:

http://johnl-jlreflections.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/nikhom-refugee-camp-1984-part-2-from.html
Some colourful young ladies - Phanat Holding Camp Jan 1984
Sr Ellen (USA) & Mousai COERR Hmong teacher 1984

Sr Ellen and Navy

Quadrangle of COERR French School Phanat
C- Section COERR Teachers - Phanat 1984 - "a going away party"


Fr Ives and Bishop Ramouse (?) Phanat 1984

Sports quadrangle - Transit Phanat 84

Fr Gerrard - dining with "family" - Transit Phanat 84

A COERR English Class Phanat 83/84

"What shall I do?" - Phanat 1984


Tony Nolan (USA) -COERR English teacher lawyer cum typist
Jan 1984

Fr Ives and Fr Neil surrounded by friends Phanat 83/84


Navy and family members Phanat 83/84 - their home for 2 years
Fr Neil and a group of Vietnamese seminarians - Phanat 83/84

COERR Teachers room - Meow giving instructions Phanat 84
Vietnamese Mass Phanat 1984

COERR Hmong English Class Phanat 83/84

"Yours truly" and some friends Section C Phanat

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp 1984 Part 1 - Photos courtesy of John Launder

The original post can be view here:
http://johnl-jlreflections.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/nikhom-refugee-camp-1984-part-1-from.html

Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp 1984 Part 1

From photo slides I took during my short term as a volunteer for COERR Christamas - New Year 1983-84. I will post more as I find and digitise. I would be pleased if there was feedback from any one who recognises themself or a relative or friend. If some one sees a photo that they desire not to be public also please contact me.


John Launder - May 2015

Delivery of supplies by COERR to Phanat Camp 1984

Obtaining supplies

Fr Ives (from France) Phanat 1984

English Class Phanat - Hmong ladies students

Hmong mother and child at English class

Lao family in Phanat 1984

Phanat 1984 - situation?

Heading "home" at Phanat 1984

Hunger for education - Phanat 1984













One serious little face - Phanat 1984

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Wind of Change....The past Holy Father John Paul II visited to the Indochinese Refugees in Thailand...for VNLR, it was a WIND OF CHANGE as following His journey...we, at the VNLR in the border could feel the changes...as many Emabssies of the third countries were opendly their hearts to welcome us...

To refugees in the Camp of Phanat Nikhom (May 11, 1984)

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO KOREA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA,
SOLOMON ISLANDS AND THAILAND
ADDRESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
TO THE REFUGEES IN THE CAMP OF PHANAT NIKHOM
Refugee Camp at Phanat Nikhom (Thailand)
Friday, 11 May 1984

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I have greatly desired to meet you during my visit to Thailand. Although my stay here at Phanat Nikhom is very brief, it has a deep meaning for me.
I want you to know that my words transcend all barriers of speech: they are spoken in the language of the heart. My heart goes out to you. It is the heart of a brother who comes to you in the name of Jesus Christ to bring a message of compassion, consolation and hope; it is a heart that embraces each and every one of you as friends and fellow human beings; a heart that reaches out to all those round the world who share your condition and experience life as refugees.
 Listen to these words that come from my heart: I want you to Know of my love. We are truly brothers and sisters, members of the same human family, sons and daughters of the same loving Father. I wish to share with you your sufferings, your hardships, your pain, so that you may know that someone cares for you, sympathizes with your plight, and works to help you find relief, comfort and a reason for hope.
Have faith in yourselves. Never forget your identity as free people who have a rightful place in this world. Never lose your personality as a people! Remain firmly rooted in your respective cultures, from which the world can learn much and come to appreciate you in your uniqueness.
Have hope in the future. Our world is in full development. It needs you and your contributions. Take every opportunity offered you to study a language and perfect a skill, in order to be able to adapt socially to the country which will open its doors to you and be enriched by your presence.
To the Catholics among you I wish to say a special word: God never said that suffering is a good thing in itself; but he taught us through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for our sins, that our sufferings, when joined to those of Christ, have value for the salvation of the world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose on the third day, is the foundation of our hope, now and in the future.
My dear refugees, the final word which I speak as your brother is to say a heartfelt thank-you on your behalf to all who are assisting you at this difficult time in your lives:
to the Government of Thailand, who has enabled me to make this visit, and who has opened the doors of this country to so many refugees from other South-east Asian countries;
to the many national and international organizations, both of a confessional and non-confessional nature, which have heard the cries of suffering from their fellow human beings and have responded in so many ways in this urgent mission of mercy; and finally
to the numerous volunteers, especially the many young people, who have come from all parts of the world to place themselves at the service of the refugees.
I thank you all for your generosity, your sacrifices and your humanitarian concern.
Dear friends: know that I do everything I can to help you and to ask others to help you. I am close to you in your suffering, and I ask God to give you strength, and to make it possible for you soon to find the peace and security of a stable home.
And may you experience God’s love in your hearts!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Canada, at last

Most of these pictures are from one of our fellow refugee, Trinh Huy Chuong, as he was lucky enough to have a small camera to capture the most memorable memory in the short time he was there, from December 1987 to June 1988.
Thank you Chuong, and everyone else, for sharing these priceless memory

Hội ngộ tại phi trường Mirabel Montreal.
Quân và 2 thầy dòng St Croix ra đón



Huynh đệ đòan tụ tại 11955 L'acadie Maison d'acceuil St Croix Montreal
Quý, Quân, Yên, Chương, Thảo, Lao, Hiền, Sơn, Vũ



Sân Bay Dừng Chân Amsterdam June 9, 1988

chuyến bay ghé lại Amsterdam trước khi bay qua Đại Tây Dương về Canada

Chờ đợi tại Amsterdam
Trên chuyến bay từ Amsterdam tới Canada
Chương đuợc IOM nhờ giúp đòan tị nạn 14 nguời 

Trên Chuyến Bay Định Cư June 8, 1988


Trên chuyến bay định cư Canada.
June 8, 1988

Trên chuyến bay định cư Canada.
June 8, 1988

On the way to Bangkok airport -1988

Quang cảnh Bangkok từ xe bus ra phi truờng đi định cư

Quang cảnh Bangkok từ xe bus ra phi truờng đi định cư

Quang cảnh Bangkok từ xe bus ra phi truờng đi định cư